USC football 2018: What went wrong, who is gone, who is back and who is on the way

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Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. #6 of the USC Trojans catches a pass for a first down against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. UCLA Bruins won 34-27. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

After a 24-17 loss to Notre Dame that cemented USC’s first losing season since 2000 and only its fourth since 1961, Coach Clay Helton was jeered by fans as he left the field through the stadium’s southwest tunnel, met with chants calling for his firing.

Inside the locker a few minutes later, Helton said he was embraced by Athletic Director Lynn Swann, who told him, “Coach, there are better days ahead.”

The Trojans hope so.

Swann, who announced a day later that Helton would return in 2019, will need the coach to guide the program back from a dismal season in which USC finished 5-7 overall and 4-5 in the Pac-12 Conference, zapping most of the goodwill built among the fanbase during his first two full seasons.

Here is a look back at what transpired over the past three months:

What went right?

Outside of a few individual performances, not much. JT Daniels, only the Trojans’ second true freshman opening-day starting quarterback, didn’t quite live up to the sky-high expectations, but showed flashes of promise, throwing three touchdowns to upend Washington State in the biggest win of the season in late September, then another three-touchdown performance to hand Colorado its first loss in October. Junior wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. became a big-play target and caught five touchdowns during a three-week stretch in October. Pass-rushing outside linebacker Porter Gustin missed the second half of the season with an ankle fracture, ending the senior’s college career, but was still the Pac-12’s sack leader entering the final weekend of the regular season.

What went wrong?

A lot. While the Trojans were likely to take a step back after consecutive New Year’s Six bowl appearances and a Pac-12 championship in Helton’s first two full seasons due to roster turnover at key spots, they weren’t supposed to hit rock bottom. Along with the first losing season in 18 years, the Trojans finished in a tie for third place in the woeful Pac-12 South Division, their lowest ever finish since conference expansion. There were other embarrassing losses, including three to in-state rivals, Cal, Stanford and UCLA, for the first time in the same season since 1996. The biggest drop-offs in performance were seen on offense, as the Trojans fell to 84th in the nation in total offense (383 yards per game) and 91st in scoring (26 points per game). They had particular trouble on the ground, averaging 134 rushing yards per game, that left them 109th in rushing offense. USC’s defense was more middle of the road, but it rarely forced big plays or turnovers to boost the struggling offense. Its four interceptions were the fewest in a season since the school began keeping statistics in 1955.

Who’s gone?

A bevy of veterans will depart from the defense, including a core of seniors headlined by cornerback Iman Marshall and middle linebacker Cameron Smith, who had started since their freshman seasons in 2015. Marshall was the Trojans’ first four-year starting cornerback since Daylon McCutcheon from 1995-98, while Smith led the Trojans in tackling for three consecutive seasons and finished 42 tackles shy of the school’s all-time career record. Safety Marvell Tell departs, along with Ajene Harris, who lined up at both nickel corner and safety. Three starting offensive linemen leave, including center Toa Lobendahn, left guard Chris Brown and right tackle Chuma Edoga. Leading rusher Aca’Cedric Ware was also a senior.

Who might be gone?

After last season, three underclassmen, a class headlined by star quarterback Sam Darnold, left school early to enter the NFL draft. A similar exodus is unlikely to follow this winter with few sure-fire pro prospects on the roster. Pittman said last week he planned to return for his senior season after catching 41 passes for 758 yards and six touchdowns, both team-highs. Pittman, though, will receive feedback after soliciting an evaluation from the NFL draft advisory board. Other juniors, including linebacker John Houston and defensive end Christian Rector, are draft-eligible, as well as redshirt sophomore wide receiver Tyler Vaughns, but they should return. Some players could transfer, notably backup quarterbacks Matt Fink and Jack Sears, but the passers have said they plan to stay at USC.

Who’s back?

There should be no shortage of skill position talent surrounding Daniels, led by Pittman, Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown, a fellow freshman and Mater Dei High product who led the Trojans with 60 receptions for 750 yards and three touchdowns. Velus Jones, who started at slot receiver, is back, as are sophomore running backs Vavae Malepeai and Stephen Carr also return. Malepeai was a tough runner behind a shaky offensive line, and Carr showed flashes as a freshman but was limited by injuries as a sophomore, recovering from back surgery and out for the final three games due to a high ankle sprain. Freshmen safety Talanoa Hufanga was among the Trojans’ leading tacklers through two months before suffering a broken collarbone, and freshman Palaie Gaoteote looks like a promising replacement for Smith at middle linebacker.

USC’s recruiting class for 2019 is currently 29th, according to a composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. It has never been outside the top-20 since the recruiting sites began ranking recruiting classes. There’s a likelihood that the Trojans rise in the rankings, with only 14 commits, split between four-star and three-star prospects. Of the 28 schools ahead of them, 16 already have 20 or more commits, meaning that USC should rise once it gets more pledges, though it’s worth wondering if Helton’s hot-seat status could influence some decisions. The Trojans’ top-ranked committed prospects include offensive tackle Jason Rodriguez from Oak Hils High and cornerback Max Williams from Serra High in Gardena. Some prospective targets include Mater Dei standout Bru McCoy, a wide receiver and defensive end who is friends with Daniels.

Joey Kaufman is the USC beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Since joining the Orange County Register in 2015, he has also covered Major League Baseball and UCLA athletics. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America. Kaufman grew up in beautiful downtown Burbank.